The list of authors was handed to me as part of the brief with very little time for discussion. I think it represents the most popular and internationally recognised Scottish writers, though I would have included Hugh MacDiarmid who, writing in a kind of Scots dialect, tapped into the Gaelic subconscious. MacDiarmid rejected the Celtic romanticism for which Scotland has become known, striving for a more authentic voice.

Wonderful illustration, and I understand why MacDiarmid should be included, in terms of influence, but I don't really think he deserves all the credit you give him!

I'd like to see a bit of Liz Lochhead, John McGrath, James Hogg, Muriel Spark (although I know people would probably object) and most importantly...Edwin Morgan! Surely Glasgow's city poet deserves a place in that line up!

John McGrath is an interesting candidate because although he wrote a series of plays about Scotland's history and struggles he was of course English and moved between north and south. In my opinion the underlying message of The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil is socialist rather than nationalist. I've always found it curious that an Englishman (born in the same town as myself) did so much to heighten awareness of the nationalist cause.

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Since graduating from Edinburgh College of Art in 1993, I've worked as both illustrator and art director. In partnership with other creatives I seek to inform, entertain and challenge using words and pictures - producing lively colourful children's books, illustrating newspapers and magazines, and helping to build global brands such as Virgin, Orange and Benetton. Whatever the client or medium, my aim is to grab attention and spark the imagination!

My work has featured in American Illustration, Graphik, Creativematch, Design Week, Advanced Photoshop and the AOI Images. In 2006 my images for Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class Suite received a Bronze Award from the Association of Illustrators and my recruitment ads for Ecolab were recognised with a GRAMIA (Grocery Advertising & Marketing Award).

In 2008 I illustrated The Rock Bible, which was awarded an editorial merit in the HOW International design awards. My work has also been shortlisted twice for the prestigious V&A Illustration Awards. I draw using a touch sensitive display - the Wacom Cintiq - then colour and finish my illustrations in Adobe Photoshop. I also use Adobe Illustrator to create sequences for animation. I live and work from a farmhouse in the Buchan plains north of Aberdeen (Scotland).